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29 September 1864
Morey, Charles C., fl. 1830-1865
to sister Mamie
Mentions his return to the hospital and his trip to New York, including seeing "Mr. Beecher" [Henry Ward Beecher] preach.
GLC03523.18.27
8 November 1862
Ayres, E.W. and Wade, W.H., fl. 1862-1864
Southern illustrated news. [Vol. 1, no. 9 (November 8, 1862)]
Sketch of the City of Vicksburg, Mississippi - History & Siege of Vicksburg from May 18 to July 25. Also includes a cartoon of Lincoln as a masked Satan; the caption reads, "King Abraham before and after issuing the Emancipation Proclamation."
GLC05959.76.03
1910
Lincoln Said Women Should Vote
Washington woman suffrage poster, featuring Abraham Lincoln's quote, "I go for all sharing the priviledges of government who assist in bearing its burdens, by no means excluding women."
GLC09103
12 November 1811
Adams, John, 1735-1826
to Benjamin Rush
Lengthy discussion of virtue and politics, reflecting on "slander" from his opponents. Tacitus' adage: "Posterity gives to every man his true honor," " has some Truth in it... but it is by no means an universal Aphorism; nor do I believe it to be...
GLC09107
28 March 1854
Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895
to Phoebe Hathaway
Updating a fellow Abolitionist on his busy schedule. "It is too bad that I cannot come to Farmington on the first of April after that winsome little note of yesterday. But I cannot and cannot now, see any chance of visiting the kind of Domicile of...
GLC09097
26 April 1708
Leathes, William, fl. 1708
[Last will and testament freeing a slave]
"In the name of God Amen I William Leaths of the City and province of New York Sadler being very Sick and weak in Body but of perfect mind & memory...ordaine this my last Will and Testament...I give & bequeath unto my Servant Wan the Spanish Indian...
GLC09102
14 October 1861
Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878
to his family
Describes a sermon he attended with the regiment on the subject of maliciousness. The regiment still has yet to leave Hartford but he states that they will leave on Wednesday afternoon (14 October was a Monday). Letter was fowarded to Coit's brother...
GLC03603.010
6 October 1861
Discusses seeing Oliver, Samuel and little Mary Coit and attending a church service with them. Mentions discomfort with going to church in full uniform. Writes from the United States Hotel.
GLC03603.004
20 October 1861
Writes about the activities of setting up the encampment and of the use of nearby farmhouses for shelter and food. Mentions that he is dreading the Dress Parade. Closes by saying he must form the regiment for church.
GLC03603.013
16 March 1862
Reports that Captain Upham is in critical condition after being shot in the battle. Explains that the surgeons were unable to extract the musket ball. Of his performance he writes "I know no one will say that I behaved cowardly in the least." Also...
GLC03603.087
5 May 1862
Thanks his family for the package and mentions getting a prayer book, a bag of tea, sardines, gumdrops and a set of brushes and combs. Written "South of Newbern," likely in North Carolina.
GLC03603.102
20 May 1862
Writes about his servant, formerly an enslaved man, selling his old horse, The Governor, for $100, of another officer having "the piles" which is apparently common among the men and that he is the one who is to seize the liquor sent to soldiers in...
GLC03603.108
16 June 1862
Writes of the officers confronting the Chaplain with his nosy behavior. They report that he is writing home with detrimental news of the regiment.
GLC03603.113
7 July 1862
Writes of the trip to Fort Monroe by boat. There are speculations as to their destination but Coit believes they are being sent as reinforcements to General McClellan. Writes, "I shall go into battle confident that God will again show forth his great...
GLC03603.120
25 September 1862
Reports that they have been ordered to Harpers Ferry. Writes that he will be unable to take his furlough because of Lieutenant Eaton's and Lieutenant Shepard's injuries from battle. Requests that newspapers with stories about the battle be saved or...
GLC03603.146
1 January 1863
Reflects on the last year saying, "How little we seem to have accomplished during the last twelve months." Expresses his thankfulness for God keeping him safe and healthy. Also says that his regiment has been almost constantly on the "front" for the...
GLC03603.178
Responds to questions from his family about the belongings of Marvin Wait, one of the men who was wounded in battle and to news that it was the anniversary of his father's death. Believes his father to be the guardian angel that watches over him and...
GLC03603.179
18-19 September 1862
He starts "Praised to God I am entirely free from even a scratch after the terrible + bloody battle of yesterday." Describes the Battle of Antietam and says that Lieutenant Eaton and Lieutenant Shepard were both wounded. Believes the regiment acted...
GLC03603.144
9 November 1862
Reports that Corps Head Quarters has issued an order to the regiments to pray for success of our arms in the battle they are about to fight. Writes that they marched and camped in the first snowfall the regiment has experienced. Describes his...
GLC03603.163
8 February 1863
Describes their early-morning departure from their camp near Fredericksburg and the trip on the steamer John Brooks. The men still do not know where they are headed, though Coit still suspects that the destination will be the Carolinas. Writes that...
GLC03603.189
9 March 1863
Coit, George O., fl. 1863
to his mother and sister
Writes of meeting various Norwich acquaintances he has been seeing in the camp and attending church services.
GLC03603.206
10 March 1864
Writes jokingly that his family constantly suffers from illnesses while he is "growing fat and hearty." Mentions that General Hunt is to be relieved. Notes that his time is spent straightening out the account books and drilling the new recruits. The...
GLC03603.257
29 March 1863
Responds to questions from his family about fixtures in their rental properties. Expresses interest in the results of the election and requests that a chess set be sent to him via one of the Norwich men who are home on furlough. Writes that he has...
GLC03603.217
24 May 1863
Says that he has hired a new servant named Bill. The Chaplin gave the soldiers a supply of new books and newspapers. Requests that his mother take the money he has sent and buy some letter paper to write him rather than the "old scraps" she has been...
GLC03603.231
27 March 1864
Responds to news from his family about their new living situation. Writes about the Chaplain's insistence that the officers set good examples. Mentions his pledge not to indulge in alcoholic beverages and of his new pledge to give up tobacco...
GLC03603.260
3 April 1864
Writes that there is more religious interest in the camp lately and describes Regiment Captain Ford standing at a prayer meeting to say that he was giving up alcohol and cursing in favor of living a Christian lifestyle. Notes that his birthday passed...
GLC03603.263
12 April 1864
to his sister
Describes a quiet camp and reading a novel called "Pique" until his candle went out at 4 a.m. Thanks her for sending a book called "Lady of the Lake." Describes singing hymns with the other officers and requests that he be sent his chess set from...
GLC03603.267
17 May 1864
Writes that he has returned to a camp in an undetermined location after being beaten in battle by a much smaller force. Describes fighting in dense fog at the command of Colonel Smith. Says that the regiment split during battle and Coit and many...
GLC03603.276
14 June 1864
Alexander, W.S., fl. 1864
to Charles Morgan Coit
This is a letter that Coit passed along to his family. The original letter stated the Coit was to receive one can of cherries and one can of milk. The note that Coit added to his family says that the milk and cherries were a generous gift from the...
GLC03603.291
18 June 1864
Writes that his personal conditions have improved and that he has been reunited with his luggage and his wall tent. The 8th Regiment, along with Burnside's other regiments will be transferred to the 9th Corps. Mentions the leadership implications of...
GLC03603.293
17 October 1864
He writes that he has inspected the whole Brigade (5 Regiments) and that his hand is tired from writing. He describes the content of the inspection blanks. He writes that he has received a commission as Major, which he considers an insult and plans...
GLC03603.326
28 August 1864
Writes from camp Bermuda that they have been busy moving camp and that the chaplain is ill. He also writes that Colonel Ward has recovered and has been offered a regiment.
GLC03603.314
30 September 1864
Smith, Moses, fl. 1864
to George D. Coit
Smith (Chaplin 8th C.V.) writes to George Coit to let him know that he has just come from the battlefield and that Charles is well. He reports on the progress of the battle saying that they have captured 500 prisoners and that the 9th lost 9...
GLC03603.322
28 October 1864
Smith, fl. 1684
to Mrs. Charles Coit
The Chaplain writes to Mrs. Coit to inform her that Charles has been wounded with a shrapnel shot. Smith reports the wound is severe and that he was being transported to Chesapeake Hospital. He requested that the Chaplin write to his mother...
GLC03603.331
24 August 1860
Allen, Joseph H., fl. 1859-1865
to Bill and Mary Mayberry
Contains 2 letters, signed twice. Page 1 and half of page 2 is to his brother-in-law Bill and half of page 2 and page 3 is to his sister (he signed the letter on page 4). Allen is aboard the USS "Congress." Is glad to hear Bill is well and has plenty...
GLC02829.02
12 March 1862
Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918
To his wife
Fleet leaving for Newbern, drawing half-rations. "Yes, we are getting to be sober and steady, if we dont it is our own fault, for we have preaching almost every night..." Mentions that the official chaplain is lazy in providing mail and preaching...
GLC04558.013
9 March 1862
Smith, William Wallace, fl. 1861-1862
to Asa Smith
Written by William Wallace Smith to his brother Asa Smith. References receiving Asa's letter and the "smoking cap" that came with it. Says nothing is going on, but says it won't be long because every man is to be provided with 60 rounds of...
GLC03742.10
27 November 1860
McSherry, Anna, 1833-?
to Henry F. McSherry
Written by Anna to her brother Henry who was an assistant surgeon in the U.S. Navy and is stationed in Brooklyn, New York aboard the USS "Vandalia." References receiving Henry's letter. Says he ought to get any books that he wants as "time spent in...
GLC03523.21.03
October 1861
Steadman, Mary C, fl. 1861
A mother to her soldier son
Poem sent to Union solider Asa Smith. This poem was written by Mary C. Stedman, a family friend of the Smiths who wrote the poem at the request of Asa Smith's mother. She references the request in GLC03742.02. In that letter she says: "When you left...
GLC03742.01
15 March 1863
Written in pencil. Continued on March 16. Describes his accommodations: "The house consists of four pieces of tents, two of which are buttoned together, for the sides, with little rope loops, at the corners, to pin them down to the ground. ......
GLC04558.076
16 July 1864
Written on U.S. Christian Commission stationery. More discussion of artillery shelling and trenches; predicts a possible evacuation; worries over not having heard from his wife; better rations; illness. Written in a camp near Petersburg, Virginia
GLC04558.147
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